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Nov 20072 Core belief Home-Start believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the key role in giving their children a good start in life and helping them achieve their full potential

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Nov 20073 Our mission Home-Start offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children, in local communities throughout the UK and with British Forces in Germany and Cyprus

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Nov 20074 Our vision and yours We want to see a society in which every parent has the support they need to give their children the best possible start in life. Parent=anyone who plays a significant role in bringing up a child.

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Nov 20076 How families get in touch Health visitor Social worker Doctor Midwife Teacher or other education workers and 25% of the families refer themselves ‘Word of mouth’

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Nov 20077 How we work with families Visited at home Not time limited Building Trust Free service designed and reviewed with the family Volunteer led. Professionally managed

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Nov 20078 Why consult with parents? Parents are the biggest influence on children. Services will be more relevant and therefore better used. Parents may become more involved in the services. Responses will influence design; therefore it’s crucial there is a good representation.

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Nov 200710 Some examples Parents awaiting housing; spending 10-11 months living in caravans in Rhyl. Parents who need interpreters to access services. Parents trying to balance expectations of education with cultural commitments. Father in prison. Five children, one with special needs.

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Nov 200711 Methods of engagement Service users repeatedly stated that the best way for them to have more say in the services they use and for their knowledge to become valid in the eyes of service providers, was through better and sustained involvement, as opposed to 'tick-box' exercises.

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Nov 200712 Some comments 1.‘Make forms easier to fill in and less confusing. Why don’t they try them out first on people like us?’ (parent) 2.‘It seems almost too obvious that if you want to provide a service the best person to ask about it is the people who will be its users’ (young person)

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Nov 200713 Participation Def: A planned process where people are given the opportunity to express their views and ideas about something, these are recorded and acted upon and then participants are made aware of the impact of their views on decisions and planning (Funky Dragon).

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Nov 200714 Time and Flexibility Families who have less time and flexibility are less able to access services and be involved. Families’ time is precious too. A flexible approach is needed to fully consult with families.

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Nov 200715 Some Parents’ comments on ‘time’ ‘Well, I had a couple of hours last night to put the washing machine on’. ‘The thought of catching one bus, then another and then another to get anywhere – shops, job, a swim. You just don’t do it.’ ‘They flood you too fast, too quick, too impersonal. They make you feel stupid, thick. They said ‘she wants OT’ What’s OT? I daren’t ask’. “She was my armbands in deep water. She was very reassuring emotionally and would sit and talk to me if I wanted to talk. And she gave me what I call hands-free time.”

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Nov 200718 Involvement Involvement of parents can lead to further engagement e.g. supported parents becoming trained volunteers, supporting other parents, and also being represented on Management Boards.